Audi Testing Le Mans-spec R18 in Monza

While FIA World Endurance Championship teams are at Silverstone unloading for this weekend’s season-opener, Audi has continued its testing program in preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The German manufacturer is testing an updated version of its R18 today at Monza, in what appears to be low-downforce Le Mans aero.

Details of the test have not yet been revealed but judging by the photos, the nose of the diesel-powered LMP1 hybrid is noticeably different than the high-downforce trim the R18 ran in last month’s official Prologue pre-season test at Paul Ricard.

Audi is expected to outfit its two R18s in high-downforce aero for Sunday’s Six Hours of Silverstone, which marks the kick-off of the nine-round global championship.

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365 as well as the recently launched e-racing365 Web site for electric racing. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com/SPEED Channel, and contributes to other publications worldwide. Contact John